Automatically locking sink mounting apparatus



Jan. 18, 1966 ENSCH 3,229,310

AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING SINK MOUNTING APPARATUS Filed 001?. 22, 1962 FIG. 6

! I INVENTOR.

TOM B. ENSCH FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,229,316 AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING SINK MOUNTING APPARATUS Tom B. Ensch, 1417 Johnstone, Bartlesville, Okta. Filed Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,121 15 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) This invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a sink or similar device in a supporting structure such as a cabinet top.

Conventional sink mounting devices require time consuming adjustment of the clamping means used in attaching the sink to the surrounding cabinet top. The present invention provides a self-locking or automatically locking sink mounting clamp or device, thereby reducing time, effort and material required in mounting a sink and frame assembly in a cabinet top.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved and novel device for supporting a sink in a cabinet top. Another object is to provide a clamping device for attaching a sink frame to a sink rim as a selfsupporting assembly when placed in an opening in a supporting structure. A further object is to provide a locking means for use on the wall of an opening in a cabinet top which automatically locks the aforesaid assembly in position in said opening when the assembly is forced into the desired position against the cabinet top.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sink frame, clamping, and locking clip assembly which conserves material and labor in installing a sink in a cabinet top. Other objects will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying disclosure.

One aspect of the invention comprises a support member for mounting a sink comprising a first plate or arm joined to a second plate or arm along the edge of said second plate to form a right angle therewith, there being transverse teeth on the face of said first plate remote from said second plate and a threaded hole thru said second plate parallel with and spaced from said first plate. The second plate is adapted to pass thru a slot in a depending web section of a sink frame with the first plate on the cabinet top side of the web. A threaded rod in said threaded hole is forced against the underside of a sink rim on which the frame is positioned and holds the frame tightly on the sink rim so as to provide an assembly which is self-supporting in a cabinet top opening. Cooperating with the foregoing structure is a locking clip on the wall of the cabinet top opening which is provided with at least one sinkwardly directed springable flange which engages said teeth and automatically locks the sink, rim and clamp assembly in proper position in close engagement of the frame with the underlying cabinet top.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying schematic drawing of which FIGURE 1 is a plan view with a cutaway section of a sink installed in a surrounding cabinet top; FIGURE 2 is a partial cross section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is pictorial fragmentary view of a sink rim adaptable to the invention; FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the clamp of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 5 is a cross section of a locking clip such as depicted in FIGURE 2; FIGURE 6 is an elevation of said locking clip; FIGURE 7 is a vertical section of a second embodiment of the clamping and locking device associated with a sink, frame and cabinet top similar to that of FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 8 is a pictorial fragmentary view of a sink rim adaptable to the support angle of FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURES 1 thru 6, a sink 10 having a rim 12 is mounted in a cabinet 14 by means of a sink frame 16 and mounting means (shown best in FIGURE 2). Frame 16 is provided with a lip 17 extending over "ice the sink rim and a lip 18 extending over the cabinet top. Appropriate positions for the attaching device are indicated at 15 in FIGURE 1. The mounting means includes a web 20 having slots 22 therein and depending from frame 16 intermediate its edges, a supporting member 24, a threaded rod or bolt 26, and locking clip 28. Supporting member 24 comprises an upright arm or plate 30 having vertically spaced teeth 32 on one face and a horizontal arm or plate 34 attached to the opposite face along one edge to form a T. A spur 36 on the underside of arm 34 assists in maintaining the support in place in slot 22 in the assembly of FIGURE 2. The lower end of arm 30 is preferably bevelled at 25.

The assembly consisting of frame 16 (including web 20 and slot 22), support T 24, and bolt 26 in cooperation with sink rim 12 permit the mounting of the sink and assembly in the cabinet top opening without other accessories. The assembly is readily made without tools of any kind, although a screwdriver or small wrench may be used to tighten rod or bolt 26 against the underside of rim 12, by placing the sink upside down on the rim, inserting support Ts 24 in slots 22, and threading bolts 26 into firm engagement with the sink rim as shown.

Locking clip 28 comprises a pair of spring bronze strips 38 and 40 preferably attached at their upper edges and provided with inwardly protruding flanges 42 and 44, respectively, along their bottom edges. Strip 40 extends farther down (is wider) than strip 38, and flange 44 is preferably slightly longer than flange 42 to provide good interlocking with the teeth on plate 32. The strips 38 and 40 are preferably integral, being formed from a single strip of spring bronze or similar material. However, they may be separate pieces. Nail or screw holes 46 are provided for fastening strips 38 and 40 to the wall 48 of the cabinet top opening.

The locking clip 28 may be of any suitable length horizontally along the wall 48. A length of A to 6 or 8 inches is sufiicient when placed at intervals around the opening at the proper depth so that flanges 42 and 44 engage teeth 32 when the lip 18 is resting on top 14. Teeth 32 preferably point upwardly so as to provide the most satisfactory locking engagement with flanges 42 and 44.

As the sink and support assembly is positioned in the cabinet top opening, flanges 42 and 44 contact bevel 25 which aids in forcing the locking clip against the wall 48. In so doing the flanges are sprung downwardly so that they exert force against plate 30 and slip into mesh with teeth 32 as the sink is lowered into proper position with lip 18 lightly resting on the cabinet top. By forcing the assembly and sink tightly into the position shown, the locking clips, placed at regular intervals along with the support assembly, lock the sink in place with any further effort on the part of the workman.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the invention, the variation being in the L-shape of the support member 50 formed by arms or plates 52 and 54. Sink web 56 is formed with slots 58 and recesses 60 to partly house plate 54 as shown in FIGURE 7. The T support of FIGURES 2 and 4 requires less vertical web on the frame to support it and is advantageous in that respect.

Support assemblies and locking clips substantially as shown in FIGURES 2-6 were constructed and used to mount a sink in an opening in a simulated cabinet top. Clips 28 were formed of spring bronze strips about & X 1%" wide X 1% deep. The flanges were about and 4 inch. The support member was a T having arms x A," wide x 1%" long. Teeth on the face of the upright arm or plate were formed along each edge in two rows, staggered with respect to each other and about H apart. The teeth were formed by curving the plate in a concave manner and cutting notches laterally therein to a depth of about M to inch. A A bolt 2" long having a hexagonal head with a screwdriver slot was threaded thru the lateral arm of the T support into contact with the underside of the sink rim. The sink frame was a standard commercial frame of T cross section having a web 1%" deep with slots at spaced intervals. just above the lower edge. After forming the support assembly at 8 positions (2 on each side near the corners) on the sink rim with only the hands, the sink, with its support assemblies, was forced into position in the cabinet top opening. It was found that the sink was held firmly in place with the outer lip of the frame tightly against the cabinet top and the inner lip tightly against the sink rim. The installation resisted every attempt to loosen same from the top; however, it was loosened and removed by prying the clips away from the support arms with a screwdriver and working the sink upwardly.

The device of the invention has several advantages which should be valuable to the plumbing trade, and include the following:

(1) Since the web of frame need be only of suificient depth to accommodate maximum thickness of sink rim and allow space for slot to receive horizontal leg of T support, a considerable saving in stainless steel is realized.

(2) the extension of T supports below web of frame act as a guide when inserting sink and frame into cabinet top.

(3) the beveled surface of bottom edge of extension of T support prevents catching on locking strip when inserting sink and frame into opening in cabinet top.

(4) the slight variation in length of horizontal legs of locking strip assures individual engagement of teeth on T support.

(5) vertical staggering of teeth on T support provide advantage of locking more securely in cabinet top with slight vertical movement of frame web. This enables the seal to be tightened at any time after installation by exerting pressure on the surface of the sink.

(6) installation can be made in any surface of sufiicient thickness to anchor the locking strips.

(7) installation time is reduced to a minimum since all work is performed from the top side.

(8) removal of frame and fixture can be accomplished by releasing the locking strip. This can be done from below the cabinet using the blade of a screw driver.

Various modifications of the device of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A support member for mounting a sink or the like in an opening in a supporting structure which comprises a first upright plate joined to a second plate along the edge of said second plate to form substantially a right angle therewith; a plurality of spaced-apart teeth on the face of said first plate remote from said second plate, said teeth extending parallel with said edge and being obliquely and upwardly directed; and a threaded hole thru said second plate spaced substantially from said first plate and substantially parallel therewith, providing space between said first plate and said hole for a sink frame web.

2. The support member of claim 1 wherein said plates form a T.

3. The support member of claim 1 wherein said plates form an L.

4. The support member of claim 1 wherein said teeth are positioned in two rows along opposite edges of said first plate, the teeth in one row being transversely opposite the spaces between teeth in the other row.

5. A locking clip adapted to be used with a support member in mounting a sink or the like in an opening in a supporting structure which comprises a pair of thin spring metal strips attached to each other along one edge, one

strip being narrower than the other, and extending along the other to form an angle of a few degrees therewith but springable into contact therewith, the edges opposite the attached edges extending generally parallel to each other away from the wider strip at substantially a right angle to form narrow overlapping flanges, the flange on the wider strip being slightly wider than that on the narrower strip, said flanges being adaptable to engage oppositely directed teeth on a toothed sink support member.

6. In combination with a sink frame having a depending web intermediate its edges and a horizontal slot in said web, a support member having a horizontal arm extending thru and resting on the lower edge of said slot and a vertical arm on the edge of said horizontal arm adjacent the cabinet side of said frame; obliquely and upwardly directed horizontal teeth spaced apart vertically on the cabinet side of said vertical arm; and a threaded upright hole thru said horizontal arm spaced from said web on the sink side thereof.

7. The compination of claim 6 wherein said arms form a T.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said arms form an L.

9. The combination of claim 6 including a threaded rod in said threaded hole adapted to thread against the lower side of a sink flange when placed in engagement with the underside of said frame.

10. An assembly comprising a sink having a horizontally extending rim; a sink frame of generally rectangular shape and of substantially T-shaped cross section including a top section, the inner portion of which overlies and engages the top surface of said rim, and the outer portion of which is adapted to overlie an adjacent surrounding cabinet top, and an intermediate web having a horizontal slot in each of the four sides thereof; a support member in each slot having a horizontal arm extending thru said slot and provided with an upright threaded hole on the sink side of said web and an upright arm having vertically spaced outwardly and upwardly horizontal teeth on its face remote from said web; and a threaded rod in each said hole bearing against the underside of said rim so as to fix said frame to said sink, said assembly being selfsupporting in an opening in a cabinet top and the like.

11. In combination with the assembly of claim 10, a cabinet top, or the like, having a generally rectangular opening therethru to accommodate said sink; springable locking means attached to each of the four walls of said opening for engaging and meshing with said teeth to hold said assembly in place in said opening.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises at least one strip of springable sheet metal fixed along the top edge to the wall of said opening and extending downwardly therealong, a narrow section of the lower edge of said strip extending inwardly about horizontally in normal position beyond said teeth and springable downwardly when contacted therewith to form a locking flange engageable with said teeth to prevent upward movement of said assembly.

13. An assembly comprising a sink having a horizontally extending rim; a sink frame having an inner lip extending over said rim and an outer lip adapted to extend over and rest upon a surrounding supporting structure; a web depending from the underside of said frame at least at spaced intervals along a plane intermediate said lips; spaced horizontal slots in said web; support member in each of at least 4 slots on opposite sides of said frame each comprising a horizontal arm extending thru said slot and an upright arm on the end of said horizontal arm adjacent said web on the side remote from said rim, said upright arm being provided with obliquely upwardly extending vertically spaced teeth on its side facing said structure and said horizontal arm being provided with a threaded upright hole directly under said rim; and a threaded rod in said hole tightly engaging the under side of said rim so as to render said assembly self-supporting in an opening in said structure.

14. In combination with the assembly of claim 12, means comprising inwardly and downwardly directed flanges fixed on the wall of said opening opposite said teeth for engaging said teeth as said assembly is positioned in said opening and holding same in position with said outer lip closely engaging the top surface of said supporting structure.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein last said means comprises at least one looking strip attached along the upper section of said structure and extending downwardly, the lower edge thereof forming a springable flange directed downwardly and toward said teeth so as to forcibly contact same as said teeth descend past said flange and resist upward movement of said assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,609 2/1953 Drain 4187 2,708,529 6/1955 Lander et al 4187 2,897,516 8/1959 Ensch 4187 2,885,691 5/1959 Juergens 4187 2,902,727 9/1959 Samolis 4187 2,921,320 1/1960 Lantz 4-187 3,071,780 1/1963 Lyon 4187 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, EDWARD V. BENHAM, LEWIS J. LENNY, Examiners. 

1. A SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOUNTING A SINK OR THE LIKE IN AN OPENING IN A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST UPRIGHT PLATE JOINED TO A SECOND PLATE ALONG THE EDGE OF SAID SECOND PLATE TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE THEREWITH; A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART TEETH ON THE FACE OF SAID FIRST PLATE REMOTE FROM SAID SECOND PLATE, SAID TEETH EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID EDGE AND BEING OBLIQUELY AND UPWARDLY DIRECTED; AND A THREADED HOLE THRU SAID SECOND PLATE SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM SAID FIRST PLATE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THEREWTIH, PROVIDING SPACED BETWEEN SAID FIRST PLATE AND SAID HOLE FOR A SINK FRAME WEB. 